Recoil-controlled ammunition feeding means for guns



March 11, 1952 w. SUMMERBELL RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANSFOR GUNS 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1947 adv/"M March 1952 w.SUMMERBELL 2,588,429

RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS Filed Sept. 4, 194710 Sheets-Sheet 2 trrlrkltltlt F.

March 11, 1952 w, SUMMERBELL 2,588,429

RECQIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS Filed Sept. 4, 194710 Sheets-Sheet 5 W1l11am Bumme r]: all

March 11, 1952 w, SUMMERBELL 2,588,429 I RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITIONFEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS Filed Sept. 4', 1947 lo Sheets-Sheet 4 a, is a aWi11iam 5hmme rh E11 lmy/m March 11, 1952 w,

RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION SUMMERBELL FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS l0Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 4. 1947 IIZZ Eggl March 11, 1952 w.SUMMERBELL RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS l0Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 4, 1947 March 11, I952 w. SUMMERBELL2,588,429

RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS 1O Sheets-Sheet 7Filed Sept. 4-. 1947 William Summer]: E11

fiwwcaybmmgmo March 11, 1952 w. SUMMERBELL 2,588,429

RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS Filed Sept. 4, 1947'will William. Eumfn Er]: 11

March 11, 1952 w, SUMMERBELL 2,588,429

RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS I Filed Sept. 4,1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 /42 H E5 ./4 4 /43 j I may" W-A I March 11, 1952w. SUMMERBELL 2,588,429 RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITION FEEDING MEANS FORGUNS Patented Mar. 11, 1952 2,588,429 RECOIL-CONTROLLED AMMUNITIONFEEDING MEANS FOR GUNS William Summerbell, Washington, D. 0.; Edith MaySummerbell, executrix of said William Summerbell, deceased ApplicationSeptember 4, 1947, Serial No. 772,042

11 Claims. (01. 89-33) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

v This invention relates to an ammunition feed ing device for a gun, andmore particularly to a mechanical means controlled by the recoil andcounterrecoil movements of the gun for feeding a round of ammunitioninto the gun barrel chamber and then actuating the firing mechanism ofthe gun.

' The extensive employment of mechanized and heavily armored implementsof war has led to the. requirement for a weapon that could be mountedand operated in a restricted space and yet could be capable ofdelivering sustained rapid fire of considerable power. Prior attempts toproduce such weapons have led to automatic firearms most of which havebeen of rather complicated and of space consuming construction, mainlydue to the means employed for automatically feeding the ammunition tothe Weapon as required.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a mechanicalfeeding mechanism that may be. installed upon existing guns withoutincreasing by any substantial amount the total space requirements of thegun for the operation thereof.

An additional object is to add the mechanical feeding mechanism to anexisting semi-automatic weapon whereby, with but slight modificationthereof, the weapon is converted into an automatic weapon of simple andefficient construction and capable of economical manufacture.

Another object is to provide an interlocking device for holding themechanical feeding device inoperative upon the failure or lack of supplyof ammunition to the feeding device. 7

It is a further object to incorporate safety fea tures into themechanical feeding device whereby the breech mechanism of the gun can bemanually opened independently of the feeding device and whereby the samemay be held inoperative.

Still another object is the inclusion of a trigger mechanism forcooperation with the breech mechanism of a, gun for automatically firingthe weapon after the breech mechanism has been closed.

--A further additional object is to provide the trigger mechanism withselective control to obtain automatic or' semi-automatic fire or to locktheweapon in safe position.

'; A-still further object is to provide a means forpreventingdisplacement of around of ammunition in the feeding deviceuntil the same has carried the round a predetermined distance towardsthe barrel chamber.

A preferred embodiment of the instant mechanical feeding mechanismemploys an ammunition tray which after receiving a round of ammunitionis moved into a gun loading position substantially at the termination ofthe counterrecoil movement of the gun to battery position. Upon the trayreaching the loading position, a linkage system is activated to releasea cocked rammer to slide the round of ammunition off the tray and intothe gun chamber. The closing of the breechblock, after the round ischambered, in turn, results in the removal of the ammunition tray fromthe path of the recoiling gun barrel which moves the rammer to its rearcocked position preparatory for loading the next ammunition round.

Another object is the provision of an automatic gun mechanism which maybe cleared of a dud round and placed again in operation with case, suchoperation being capable of being carried out by direct manual operationor by hydraulic or other remotely controlled means.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will be apparent from the following description andthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the right, or loading, side of theammunition feeding device attached to a gun with the recoiling partsthereof in battery position preparatory to firing and the ammunitiontray of the feeding device in position to receive a round of ammunition;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the left side of the structure shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the rear end of the weapon atline 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the ammunition traydepressed to gun loading position and the breech opened preparatory toshifting a round of ammunition into the gun chamber by the rammermechanism;

7 Fig. 6 is an inside elevational view of the left side plate of Figs. 2and 3 showing those parts of the feed mechanism supported by the plate,said aprts being in a position corresponding to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive;

' Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the ammunition tray inthe gun loading position corresponding to Fig. 5; v

Fig. 8 is an inside elevational view of the right side plate of Figs. 1and 3 showing those parts of the ammunition feed mechanism supported bythe plate, particularly the rammer mechanism which is shown in itsrearward cocked position corresponding to Fig.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 disclosingdetails of the rammer latch assembly for holding the rammer in thecocked position of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on line l0'l ll of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken through line ll|l of Fig.10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view on line l2l 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13is a vertical sectional view on line l3-l 3' of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged partial plan view of the rear end of Fig. 3illustrating the action of the cartridge tray locking lever;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view on the line I'5I5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken through the forward part ofthe cartridge tray at line l6-l6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the cartridge tray holding pins shownin Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a schematic view of the devices for holding the feedingmechanism inoperative;

Fig. 19 is a detached rear end elevational view cranks of Fig. 19 andthe remaining structure ofthe weapon;

Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of thebreech mechanism on the line 2I2I of Fig. 4; v

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the slide operating crank, asviewed from 22--22, of Fig. 19;

Fig. 23 is a rear elevational view of the crank of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view, withcertain parts in section, of the trigger mechanism shown assembled tothe left side plate in Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken through the trigger mechanism at line25-25 of Fig. 7;.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged sectional view of the trigger mechanism taken online 2626 of Fig. 25, the firing selector control being set for auto-Imatic fire;

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 26 but with the firing selectorcontrol set for semi-automatic or j single-shot fire;

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 26 but with the selector control beingset in safe position;

Fig. 29 is a plan view of the selector;

Fig. 30 is an elevational view of the selector as seen from line 30-30of Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is a sectional view of the selector taken on the line 3l3l ofFig. 29. v

Fig. 32 is a sectional view of the selector on line 32-32 of Fig. 29;

Fig. 33 is a plan view of the tripper guide housing per se of Figs. 6and 24 to 28, inclusive;

Fig. 34 is a side elevational view of the guide housing of Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 is a side elevational view of the end portion of the tripperguide shown in Figs. 6 and 24 to 28, inclusive;

7, Fig. 35a is a plan view of theguide shown in Fig.35;

Fig. 36 is a plan view of the tripper shown in Figs. 24 to 26,inclusive;

Fig. 37 is a left side elevational view of the tripper of Fig. 36;

Fig. 38 is a'front end elevational view of the triper of Fig. 36;

Fig. 39 is a perspective view showing the installation of the cartridgetray pin of Fig. 17;

Fig. 40 is'aj sectional view through line 40-40 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 41 is a sectional view taken on line 4l-4l of Fig. 3 showing thefiring pin mechanism in the breech, as well as of some of the selectorparts of Fig. 26. with the tripper of Fig. 38 moving into position tofire the gun;

Fig. 42 is a view similar to Fig. 20 but showing the position of variousparts when the breechblockis down (breech opened); and

Fig. 43 is an exploded view of the breech operating cranks of Fig. 19.

For the purpose of describing the present in-. vention, reference ismade to a weapon which is basically similar to that type disclosed inthe patent to Summerbell, No. 2,398,453, issued April 16, 1946, forBreechblock Mechanism. A

weaponof this type has a barrel I installed in a sleigh 2 which slideson a non-recoiling por-' tion 3 of the weapon and thus supports thebarrel I for movement away from and to battery position. To the rear endof the barrel is at tached a breech ring 4 which has depending lugs 5secured to a piston rod of a 'recoilcylinder, not shown, by a bolt 6(Figure 4). v,

The breechblock mechanism and the mechanical means for opening andclosing the breechblock is similar to the patented structure. Briefly,this includes a cam bracket 1 (Fig. 8) which is secured to anon-recoiling portion 3 of the weapon by bolts 8. A rod 9 (Figure 2)mounted in lugs 9a depending from the breech ring 4 rotatably supports apair of multi-lever hollowcrank shafts I0 and II (Figs. 19 and 43).

The cam bracket 1 is provided with a longitudinal track l2 in whichslides a guide rail l3, the rail l3 being secured to the breech ring 4,sliding therewith but preventing relative rotation between the gunbarrel I and the remainder of the weapon. (See Figure 4.)

The cam bracket 1 is also provided with an upper cam plate [4 and alower cam plate 15 for rotating the crankshafts l0 and H which, in turn,raises and lowers a breechblock l6 through an arm l1. (See Figure 21.) Aspring mechanism I8 provides the counterbalancing and closing means forthe breechblock IS. The op-.

,eration of these parts is fully described in the aforementioned patent.

The invention, as soon will become apparent, may be applied to weaponsother than the type referred to above and the weapon represented by theabove-mentioned patent has been chosen only to illustrate, and not tolimit, the applicability of the invention. For this reason, furtherdetails of the weapon are not described as it the -non-recoilingportions 3 of the weapon'by bolts |9b. A right plate (Fig. 8) is securedto the cam bracket 1 by bolts 26a.

A bridge 2| (Figure 3) spans the space between the plates IQ and 20 andis attached to each at their front portions by any suitable means, suchas riveting or welding. A rear wall 22 is provided between plates withfianges 22a which are inserted between the rear portions of these platesand fastened to them by any suitable means, such as bolts 22b.

The left plate |9 (Figs. 6 and 7) carries spaced pivot studs 19a onwhich are mounted for swinging movement a pair of bell cranks 23 and 24.Each bell crank is provided with supporting arms 23a and 24a,substantially midway of which each are provided with keyhole-shapedapertures 23b and 24b. The apertures 23b and 24b receive spindles 23cand 240 located respectively on a front slide 25 and a rear slide 26.The front slide 25 is slidably mounted in a front guide 21 suitablysecured against the inside of the left plate I9. The rear slide 26 issimilarly mounted in a rear guide 28 also suitably fastened to theinside of the left plate l9. The spindles 23c and 240 on the slides 25and 26 are preferably formed with enlarged heads capable of passingthrough the large ends of the keyhole apertures 23b and 24b duringassembly of the parts but areultimately positioned in the slottedportion of the keyholes (Fig. 6) so that during normal operation, theneck of each spindle 23c and 240 reciprocates in the slotted portion ofeach aperture as the arms 23a and 24a are swung about their respectivepivot bolts I911. The end portions of the arms 23a and 24a are laterallyoffset, as shown in Fig. 3, in the direction of the axis of the barrelI. Each arm 23a and 24a is further provided with an opening or bore 29having a keyway 36 (Fig. 1).

The ofiset end portions of the arms 23a and 24a fit within bifurcatedlugs 3| (Figs. 3, 15 and 16) of yokes 32 and 33 which securely embrace acartridge tray 34, and, as best shown in Fig. 39, outer bifurcation 35of each lug 3| is formed with a pin receiving bore 36 provided with akeyway 31.

Each of the arms 23a and 24a is pivotally retained between its lug 3| bya pin 38 (Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 39) having a key 38a. The pin 38 isjournalled in the aligned bores 29 and 36 with the key 38a within thekeyway 31.

The keyway 31 (Fig. 39) is normally out of alignment with the keyway inthe arms 23a and 24a and it is only in alignment when these arms are ina depressed position somewhat beyond that shown in Fig. 1 at which timethe pin 38 can be fully inserted or removed. During normal operation thekeyways 36 in the arms 23a and 24a will be obstructed by the inner faceof the bifurcation thereby preventing disassembly of the tray and as thekeyways 30 and 31 are but momentarily in alignment as the tray swingsdownward there is no danger of inadvertent or accidental separation ofthese parts.

The cartridge tray 34 is a tubular member of suitable diameter toreceive a cartridge 33a and, as shown in Fig. 6, provided with alongitudinally cut-out portion having aconfiguration-roughly'corresponding to the profile of the cartridgewhereby the same may be placed on the tray as will appear further.

The cartridge tray 34 is swung, in a substantiallyvertical planecontaining the axis -of the barrel by the arms 23a and 24a from theelevated (cartridge receiving) position, shown in Fig. 1, to a depressed(gun loading) position,

shown in Figs. 5 and 7, wherein the axes of the cartridge tray andbarrel bore become aligned preparatory to shifting a cartridge from thetray 34 into the barrel chamber in a manner to appear.

Each bell crank 23 and 24 includes arms 39 and 39a respectivelyangularly offset at generally a right angle to its other arm 23a and 240respectively. The levers 39 and 39a are pivoted to a link 40 (Figs. 3and 7), which is provided at its forward end with a laterally extendingcam 4| for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A

spring housing 42 (Fig. '7) is pivoted to the rear -lever 39a andtelescoped over a spring case 43 which has pivotal engagement with apost 44 fixed to the left plate I9. A compression spring 45 is confinedwithin the housing 42 and the case 43 and imposes ayielding forcetending to rotate rear lever 39a counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. '7,to bias and, when conditions permit as to appear later, to move thecartridge tray to itsdepressed (gun loading) position.

A hand lever 46 (Fig. "1) is pivotally mounted near the front end of theleft plate I9 on a stud 46a and carries a button 461) for engagementwith a reciprocable part of the spring mechanism |8 for manually openingthe breech in a manner and for reasons to appear later.

A link 41 is pivoted on the handle 46 at 46c (Figs. 6 and '1) and ispivotally connected to'a lug 48b fixed to one side of a blade 48 (Figs.18, 24, 26, 2'1 and 28) which is reciprocably mounted in a groove 48a(clearly shown in Fig. 33) formed in the face of a tripper guide housing49. The tripper guide housing 49 is secured to the left plate l9 by anysuitable means, such as the rivets 49a, just forward of the front slide25. (See Figure 6.)

As shown in Figs. 33 and 34 (and in section in Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 28),the tripper housing is formed with a substantially rectangular plateportion 4% from which extends laterally a tubular guiding sleeve portion490 merging into a substantially rectangular guiding box 49d, theopposed walls of which have aligned bearing openings 49c. Depending fromthe rearward portion of box 49d is a lug 49). The open groove 48a.extends across both the plate portion 49b and lug 49 The tripper housingthus coacts with the left plate H) to retain the blade 48 in the groove48a.

The front slide guide 21 (Fig. 18) is cut away as at 50 to expose aledge 5| formed in and adjacent the bottom of the frontslide 25. Thuswhen hand lever 46 is pivoted counterclockwise as seen in Figures 26,2'7 and 28, slide 48 is moved rearwardly beneath ledge 5| to therebyhold slide 25 in the elevated position shown at Figure 6. The hand lever46 is shifted counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 6, when it is desiredto manually open the breechblock, and when so moved, it will, throughthe link 41, push the blade 48 under the ledge 5|, thus holding thecartridge tray 34 in its uppermost position (Fig. 6), above and out ofthe way of the opened breech for the hand ejection or chambering of around of ammunition.

The bridge 2|, which spans the distance at the front ends (Fig. 3) ofthe plates [9 and 20,- has a transverse depending flange (Figs. 1, 8 and9) 52 provided with an aperture 53 through which 7 guide housing 54; tothe bridge. 2|... A look: nut. fills. also. provided as an addedprecaution, The.

housing 54, is. also supported intermediate its.

length on the right plate 20 by any suitable means. such as therectangular block 58 (Fig. 3),

having a concave surface (Fig. 12) welded or otherwise secured to thehousing 54, which is threadably engaged by a screw 59 passing throughthe right plate 2i].v The rammer guide housing 54 near the rearendthereof is provided witha. yokev 60 (Figs. 4 and 40) havin a pair oflaterally extending feet Bl secured to the right plate 20 by screws 62passing through apertures in the feet 6 l.

its-illustrated in Fig. 8, that portion of rammer guide housing 54facing toward the cartridge tray 3.6 has a longitudinally extending slot63. Slidable in housing 54 is a concentric tubular rammer sleeve64(Figs. 4,, 8, 10 and 11), and extending laterally from this tubularrammer sleeve 64 and through the slot 63 (Figs. 4, 8 and is a lug 65(Figs. 4 and 5). Closing the rear end of the housing or sleeve 54 is acap 65. Adjacent the cap 66 and within the housing 54 is a buffer discblock 66a for absorbing the recoil of therammer sleeve. 64 at the end ofits rearward movement caused in a manner to be explained- Anchoredcentrally in the cap 66 is a guide rod 61 extending longitudinally andconcentrically with the sleeves 54 and 64 (Fig. 11)..

Wrapped about the guide rod 61' is a coiled rammer spring 68 extendingbetween the cap 55 and a bushing 69 secured inthe front end of therammer sleeve 64 biasing the rammer sleeve 64 to the front end of thehousing 54. As shown in Figs.18, and 11, rammer guide housing 54adjacent its front portion and on the sidenext to the right plate andunderneath the bridge 2| has. a portion of its walls slotted to form asubstantially square opening 10 facing a flange H, depending from bridge2| and secured to plate 20, on which is secured a bracket Tia. forpivot.- ally supporting a fiat plate or latch l2 for swing ing into andout of the aperture '10.

When swung into the aperture 10, the latch i2 is projected into the pathof the tubular rammer 'sleeve 54, as shown by sectional views of Figs.10 and 11, to catch the rammer sleeve 64 and hold it in a cookedposition (Fig; 8) against the action of the compressed spring 58. faceof the rammer sleeve 64 next to the right plate 20 is formed with a flatsurface 13 (Fig. 12) which commences adjacent the frontv end of the,rammer sleeve 64 and runs practically its full length, to provideclearance. between the sleeve 64 and the latch 72 thereby eliminatingany pressure. upon the sleeve 54 by the latch 72 which would retardrearward movement of the sleeveo l.

The front end of the rammer sleeve 64 is provided with a latch engagingfoot 14 (Fig. 11), preferably reinforced by an inlay 75 of a suitablehard metal. The latch 12 is provided with a similar inlay '16 at itsrear face for engagement with the rammer foot M.

The top of the rammer latch 12 (Figs. 9 and 10) is provided with anarrow lug 12a having secured therethrough a cross pin 71 which isengaged by a hook!!! formed on a latch operator rod 19 reciprocable in abore 80 formed in a transverse boss 80a of the bridge 2|- The inner endof the latch operator rod 19 terminates in a hook. por- The tion 8|engageable with a similar hook portion.

81a on. a plunger rod 82, which is also reciprocablein the bore 88 andengaged by a spring 83 which biases the. plunger rod 82, and thereby theaeaa ze;

latch operator rod 19. to. the left. as viewed in Figs. 5 and 10 ordownwardly as, viewed in Fig. 9,. projecting the. rammer latch 12through the slot 70. and into the path of the rammer. sleeve 64. a shownin Figs. 10 and 11.

The. outer end of the plunger rod 82 (Fig. 9.) is formed with a follower84 for engagement by the cam 4| on the front end of the link 40, whenthis link is shifted rearwardly (Fig. 3). during the lowering of thecartridge. tray 34 into gun loading position (Fig.7).

The cam 4| will contact the. follower 84 only when the tray 34. is inits depressed (gun loading) position (Fig 7). and only at that time willthe plunger rod 82 be shifted in the bore 80, to compel thelatchoperating rod 19 to swing thelatch 12" away from the rammer sleeve 74 torelease the same for movement by the spring 68 to shift a. cartridgefrom the tray 34 into. the barrel chamher.

The lug 65. (Figs. 4, 5 and 8) on the rammer rod 64 pivotally carries arammer head 85 in which is slidably mounted a spring-pressed detent 86for selective engagement with notches 81 formed in the lug 65 toreleasably secure the rammer head 85 in either a lowered position (Fig.5) preparatory to sliding acartridge off the cartridge tray 34, or araised position (Fig. 4) to permit the extraction of a fired cartridgecase when the breechblock I6 is opened. In a manner to appear, therammer head 85 is moved from the lowered position (Fig. 5) to the raisedposition (Fig. 4) by the breechblock I6 when it is lifted to a closedposition in the conventional manner by the chambering of a cartridge.

When the gun is loaded and ready to fire, the rammer head 85 is in theposition of Fig. 4, with the front face-of the rammer head 85 abuttingthe breech face of the breech ring 4. As the gun recoils upon firing,the recoiling breech ring 4 will drive'the rammer head 85 to the rear,and likewise the rammer sleeve 64 which carries the lug which pivotallysupports the rammer head 85. The combined weight of the rammer sleeve 64and head 85 is great enough so that the velocity imparted to them by therecoiling breech ring 4 is sufficient to cause the rammer head 85 tooverrun the distance traveled by the gun in recoil.

The buffer disks 65a cushion the end terminal movement of the rammerhead 85. To further cushion the shock of recoil and to prevent excessiverebound from the buffer disks, the lug 65 (Fig. 40) has the upperportion provided with an undulated surface 65a adapted to ride under ahousing a secured to the yoke 60. The housing 60a contains a ball 60bforced against the corru-. gated surface 35a by a plunger 60c urgedoutwardly of the casing by a spring 60d. The ball 505 thus firmlyengages with the undulated surface. a to prevent. the rammer head fromrebounding forwardly. In this rearward position, the rammer head 85 israised and directly underneatha rearwardly extending vertically arrangedplate 33a (Figs. 4, 6 and 14) carried by the rear ygke 33 supporting oneend of the cartridge tray 3 As may be seen from Fig. 4, the rammer head85 will then be beneath the raised cartridge tray and will be knockeddown by plate 33a of the tray to the position shown in Fig. 5 when thetray descends. In this lower or gun loading position the tip oftherammerhead 85 is aligned with cut-out.

portion of the tray and is adapted to extend into the cartridge tray I lto engage and shift the cartridge.

manner from the barrel chamber.

9 Whenthe rammer sleeve swans thereby the rammer head 95) is released bytilting the latch l2 toward the right plate 20, therammer springtractors allowing the breechblock 16 to move to its closed position, andin so doing, its upper curved face will turn the rammer head up to itsposition shown upon Figure 4.

The wall 22, which is secured between the rear ends of the right andleft plates l9 and 20 has formed on its lower part a curved deflectingsurface 89 (Fig. 1) designed to deflect downwardly cartridges ejected bythe extractors in the usual The upper part of the housing wall 22 has asupport 90 on which is supported a normally vertical pin 90a about whichis pivoted a substantially T-shaped latch 9|. The top of the latch has astop lug 90b which limits the swinging moVements of the latch finger 9la(Fig. 14) which is biased by a spring'9lb, in a clockwise direction toplace the finger 9m in position to engage in a notch 92 (Figs. 4 and 14)formed in the rear cartridge tray yoke 33. The finger 9m extends intothe tray a distance such that it can be engaged by the rim of acartridge. When a cartridge is within the tray, it forces the finger 9 Ia, against the resistance of the spring 9th, out of engagement with thenotch 92 as shown by the broken lines in Fig.'14.

If no ammunition is fed into the cartridge tray 34, or if for any otherreason there is a failure in the supply of ammunition, the latch finger9! a will remain in the notch 92 and prevent the tray 34 from descendingand thereby rendering the feed mechanism inoperative.

The rear end of the cartridge tray 34 (Figs.

1, 6 or '7) stops short of the rear wall of the yoke 33 thereby ineffect forming notches 93 and 93a at top and bottom to allow thecartridge to pass into the tray with the cartridge rim fitted in thenotches 93 and 93a. Lips 94 at the front of the tray 34providesuiiicient room for the passage of the projectile at its reduced end.Any forward motion of the cartridge within the tray 34 will place thecartridge in such position that it cannot be withdrawn from the side ofthe tray. How-- ever, excessive forward movement during the de-Jscending of the tray would extend the ammunition round beyond the endof the tray 34 and thus strike the breech ring, thereby interfering withthe lowering of the tray 34. Such forward movement during the initialdescent of the tray is prevented by cartridge retaining pin 95 (Fig. 14)which is anchored in the offset portion of "the rear supporting arm 24a.The pin 95 projects into the tray, when the tray is up, and into tivelyto the cartridge and thus be moved out of the path of the cartridge rim,to that shown in As the tray 34 swings Fig. 8 to free the cartridge forforward movement 7 by the rammer head 85.

Any desired feeding means may be provided,

including hand feeding, for laterally inserting cartridges into the tray34 when the tray is in its upper position (Fig. 6) and restraining thecartridges within the feeding means while the tray completes its cycleof operation in positioning a cartridge for ramming into the barrel. Forconvenience in mounting such cartridge feeding means, a fiat portion 91has been formed on the upper face of the rammer guide housing 54 (Fig.3) so as not tointerfere with feeding directly from the side. As thiscartridge feeding means does not form a part of the invention, furtherdescription is not included. However, it should be mentioned that anabutment on the cartridge feeding means extends beyond the right sideplate 20 toward the cartridge tray 34, being shown in phantom lines inFig. 14 and identified by the reference number 96. As the cartridge trayswings downward it will travel slightly rearward along the arc of acircle centering on the stud I911. This rearward component of motionwill cause the cartridge to strike the abutment 96. However, asexplained above, at this position of the tray the pin 95 will have beenwithdrawn and the abutment 96 will push the cartridge forward inrelation to the tray to a position in which the cartridge cannot bedisplaced laterally from the tray and on further lowering of the traythe base of the cartridge will be transferred from the abutment to theforward face of the rammer in alignment therewith. 1

The breech mechanism, as was previously stated, is similar to that shownin the aforementioned Patent No. 2,398,453. By way of reiteration, thebreechblock I 6 is engaged by a crankarm l1 whereby rotatory motion ofarm I! about the axis '0f the shaft 9 vertically reciprocate's theblock.

A depending arm H on the breech crank has a stud l0la which engages thecam'track formed between the curved spaced edges of cam'plates l4 and I5(Figures 4 and 20) on the fixed cam bracket 1 as the gun recoilsrearwardly; thereby dropping the breechblock (Fig. 42). The crank isalso provided with'a laterally extending stop portion I04 on the crankarm I! which engages the breech'ring lugs 5 when the breechblock isfully lowered to positively limit its downward motion.

As shown in Fig. 21 the crank arm 11 is provided with a spring presseddetent H15 which crankshaft [1. As a result, the crank members [0 and IIare constrained to rotate with each other on the shaft 9 which, as notedin Fig. 5, has one end journaled within the crank member l0 and itsother end journaled in the right de pending'lug 9a; The assembly'of thecrank members I Band I I removed from the breech ring is shown inelevation in Fig. 19 and in' perspective in Fig. 43. The crank member I0 has an upwardly extending crank arm I II which (Fig. 20) is coupled bya linkl l2 to a spring rod H3 of the spring mechanism I8. The forwardend of the spring rod'l I3 is provided with a nut l l3a (Figs. 2 and '7)confining a spring H4 between it and an abutment in the spring casing"H5 secured to the breech ring-'14. The nutl 13a is positioned directlyopposite to the button 4612 on way of the recoiling barrel.

the-operating handle 46. 7 Thus. moving the-handle 46 rearwardly(clockwise in Fig. 2) will compress the spring H4 and through the rod 3,link H2 and crank III open the breechblock. As described intheaforementioned Patent No. 2,398,453, or in any other convenientmanner, the breechblock I6 is latched in the open position (Fig. 42) byengagement of its extractor lugs, not shown, with a convenient abutmenton the breechblock 4. The insertion of a cartridge into the barrelchamber will operate to release this engagement and allow thebreechblock 4 to be'raised to a closed position by the action of thespring II 4. The second crank member II) differs from its equivalent inthe aforementioned patent by the addition of a generally rearward- 1yextending arm II6 provided with a laterally extending lug II'I adaptedwhen the gun is in battery position to engage the underside of thethickened laterally extending foot portion H3 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) formedon the bottom ofthe f-ront slide 25. This arm H6 is'also shown'"inphantom lines on Figs; 6 and '7 in the positions it would occupy inrelation to the front slide during the raised and lowered, positions ofthe tray 34.

After a cartridge has been rammed into the barrel chamber, it will tripthe extractors to allow the breechblock 4 to be raised by the springmechanism I8, as already explained. Upward movement of the breechblockI6 will. through its crank arm IT, rotate the crank member II) which, inturn, tilts arm H6 upwardly (Figs. 4 and 6) pushing the front slide 25to positively raise the cartridge tray 34 to the position shown in Fig.6.

In the event it is desired to o en the breechblock I6 manuallv, the,hand lever 46 is actuated, as explained. However, during manualoperation it is desirable that the cartridge tray 34 remain in raisedposition out of the path of the ejected cartridge case. This isaccomplished through the blade 48, previously described, which willengage the ledge 5I (Fig. 18), to hold the front slide 25 againstdescending, which would happen when the breachblock I6 drops for it, inturn, swings the'lug I I1 downwardly to the dotted line position of Fig.7.

Also, to insure the retention of the cartridge tray 34 in its raisedposition of Figs. 2, 4 and 6, a rail I I9 (Fig. 2 and 18) is secured tothe spring casing H5 and extends rearwardly therefrom to a positionadjacent the front slide foot H8.

The rail II9 reciprocates with the gun during recoil and in so doing itwill slide under the foot IIB of the front slide 25 to prevent thelatter from sliding downwardly and thereby the cartridge tray fromswinging downwardly in the The rail H9 clears the foot II8 just prior tothe completion of counterrecoil movement of the gun, after which theslide 25 is permitted to descend into gun loading position to align acartridgev with the barrel chamber. 7

The firing mechanism forms no part of the present invention except,insofar as it cooperates therewith. Therefore a mechanism similar to thetype assembly shown in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,245,623, may beemployed, and, as shown in Fig. 41, it includes a cooking lever I23pivoted on the breechblock I6 by means of a 1 pivot I26a. The upperextremity of this cock.- ing lever I2!) is curved rearwardly and rideson the breech ring 4 when the breechblock I6 is lowered to retract afiring pin I231) against a compression spring I200. The firing; pinI202) is thus moved rearwardly with its depending cam lug l2lld. Duringthis retraction, the cam lug I 20d shifts the sear I2I laterally in thebreechblock i6 and against the action of a sear spring I2Ia. When thecam lug I20d clears the sear I2I, it is restored to its originalposition by its sear spring I2Ia and is thus interposed in the path ofthe cam lug I2ild holding the firing pin I267) in. cocked position asshown in Fig. 41. The sear I2I has a downwardly projecting arm I22slidably received within a recess I23 in the breechblock to preventrotational movement of the sear I2I. The sear I2I has an outwardlyprojecting cam member I24 which, when the breechblock I6 is closed(raised), is in alignment with a firing plunger I25.

The firing plunger I25 is reciprocable from side to side in a transversebore 4a in the breech ring 4 and adapted to be extended beyond either ofits sides. The firing plunger I25 may assume different shapes but, asshown in Fig. 41, the plunger consists generally of a pair ofcylindrical portions of different diameters and separated by an annularcollar I25b which forms a seat for a return spring I25c,-which biasesthe plunger I25 to the left in Fig. 41. The smaller cylindrical portionhas flattened portions I25d reciprocable through an opening having anoutline similar to the cross section of the portion of I25d to preventrotation of the plunger I25. The tip of the plunger I 25 protrudesslightly and has a cam surface I25e inclined downwardly and to the leftfor engaging the cam I24 for camming the sear I2I to the right torelease the firing pin as the breechblock I6 moves into its closedposition (Fig. 41). The opposite end of the plunger I25 is provided witha segment of a frusto-conical portion forming a follower I25 beyond theski wall of the breech ring (Fig. 25).

It should be. noted that if the firing plunger I25 should be maintainedin a. depressed position in a manner to be explained, that is pushed tothe right, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 41, against the actionof the return spring I250, the cam surface I25e will extend into thepath of the sear cam I24. Hence, during the final increment of upwardmovement of the breechblock I6, the sear I2I will be cammed in (to theright) causing the lug I26d to be freed to fire the weapon immediatelyupon closing of the breech. This, feature is utilized in connection withthe automatic operation of the firearm as will appear from furtherdescription.

The follower I251 is in the path of a rearwardly tapered surface I25a(Figs. 25 and 41) of a tripper I26 (Fig. 41) during the final incrementof movement of the breech in counterrecoil movement to battery position.

The tripper I26 (Figs. 36, 3'7 and 38) includes a fiat plate portion[26b provided with a pair of spaced apertured ears I260. From one earextends a forwardly and upwardly curved arm I26d. The flat plate portionI261) carries an integral projection I26e adapted to ride on the innerface of the front slide 25 as the trigger mechanism is actuated forbracing the tripper against lateral displacement due to the component offorce required to force the follower 525; of the firing plunger inwardfor firing.

v The tripper ears I260 are pivoted within the box-like frame or carrierI 21 by a horizontal pin I21awhereby the tripper is supported in thetrigger carrier I2! attached to a connecting rod- I28 reciprocable inthe boss. 490 (Fig.

A pivot pin I281: connects the connectby actuation of the trigger armI29 it will engage the follower I257 of the firing plunger I25 to camthe firing plunger inward and fire the weapon.

A torsion spring I34, surrounding the pivot pin I 21a, has one endanchored in this tripper I26 and its other end bearing against thecarrier I21 to bias the upwardly curved arm I26d of the tripper I26 intosliding engagement with a selector I32 in a manner and for a reason tobe presently described. The plate portion I'26b of the tripper isprovided on the vertical beveled face I26a with a beveled lower faceI31. A small recess I38 is also provided on the lower face to provideclearance for the firing plunger follower I25 when the gun returns tobattery positionduring semi-automatic firing.

When the weapon is conditioned for automatic fire, the tripper I26 willbe retained in a rearward position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 25,

and when the gun returns to battery position the firing plunger followerI251 will contact the face I26a of the tripper I26 forcing the plungerinward so that its cam surface I256 (Fig. 41) will engage the sear I2Iand fire the weapon as soon as the breechblock has risen to closedposition.

' When the weapon is set for semi-automatic fire, the tripper I26 iscaused to force the firing; plunger I25 inwardly to actuate the searI2I, in a. manner hereinbefore explained, and then immediately assume aposition in which it cannot again engage the firing plunger followerI25f until the tripper is returned to a forward posi tion and itsrearward movement repeated. This function is analogous to that of thedisconnec tor employed in most semi-automatic hand firearms.

To accomplish this last function, the selector I32 (Figs. 29, 30, 31 and32) is utilized, it be ing oscillatably supported for motion about ahorizontal axis in openings 49c (Fig. 34) of the tripper housing 49. Theouter end of the selector I32, being of reduced diameter, protrudesthrough a bore in the left side plate I9 (Fig. 25') and is slotted toreceive a selector arm I which is preferably of spring stock and has atendency to hug the outer face of the left side plate L9.

The extremity of the selector arm I40 is provided with a cone-headedselector arm pin I4I which passes through the selector arm I40 and hassecured to its outer end a knob I42. The

coned head of the selector arm pin MI is adapted to bear selectively ineither of recesses I43, I44, or I (Fig. 2) in the left side plate I9,depending upon the type of fire desired. Recess I43 provides forautomatic fire and positions the selector arm I40 as shown in Fig. 26.Similarly, recess I44 provides for single shot (semiautomatic) fire andpositions theselector arm I40 as shown in Fig. 2'1, while recess I45locates the selector arm I40 for locking the firing mechanism, as shownin Fig. 28, against operation.

The selector I32, intermediate its journaled portions I32a and I32b is ahalf cylindrical shell formed with peripheral recesses I46 and I41 toprovide a pair of axially and circumferentially s aced selector sectorsI46a and Him, as best s own in Figs. 29 to 32.

Referring to Figs. 35 and 35a, the box-like carrier I21 is formed withthe longitudinal side walls I48 and I49. 'The side wall I48 has aplateau portion I48a merging into a semi-circular depression I50. Theopposite side wall I49 has an elongated notch provided with a fiatportion which lies slightly below a plane tangent to the depression I50.

Now, referring to Fig. 25, the recess I41 is aligned with and above theside wall I48 of the box-like carrier I21; the recess I46 with and abovethe upwardly curved arm I26d. The sector I 41a is above the side wallI48 and when rotated downwardly in Fig. 25, it will engage in thesegmental notch I50 (Fig. 28) to hold the box-like carrier I21 againstany shifting movement.

The inner selector sector 146a is shown in section in Fig. 32 and it istaken in a plane corresponding to that in which the .sectional view ofFig. 26 is taken. In this position, that is the position shown at Fig.26, the selector I32 15 set for automatic fire which places the sectorsI46a and l41a above the side walls I48. and I49 of the box-likestructure (Fig. 25) thereby out of the path of these walls permittingthe boxlike structure I21 to be shifted to the rear, as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 25, by the trig ger I29 to its fullest extent.Likewise, in this position of the selector I32, the curved arm I26d onthe tripper I26 is free to reciprocate horizon tally through the recessI46, the torsion spring I34 holding the tripper I26horizontally in whichposition it will force the firing plunger I25 inward of the breech ring4 and continued to do so as often as the gun completes its counterrecoilmovement until the trigger arm I29 is released.

When the selector is rotated counterclock wise from its position in Fig.26 to that of Fig. 27 (also shown in Fig. 24), the inner sector I460.will have been moved into position to obstruct the path of the curvedarm I26d on the tripper I26. Thus, the sectors I46a and I41a are abovethe axis of the selector I32 and offer no interference to freereciprocation of the trigger guide I21. As the tripper I26 is moved fromits position in Fig. 24 to that of Fig. 27, the arm I 26d strikes thesector I460. forcing the tripper I26 to rock clockwise about its pivotas seen at Figure 2'1.

Thus, the tripper I26 is tilted while being shifted to the rear, andwill wipe across the follower I25f on the firing plunger I25 to assumethe tilted position shown in Fig. 27. Thus, for the brief interval thatthe tripper I26 wipes across the follower I25 the plunger I25 willactuate the sear I2I and immediately become disengaged from theprojection I251. This projection in returning to itsoriginal positionwill be received within the recess I38 when the gun returns to batteryposition. When the trigger arm I29 is allowed to return to forwardposition the tripper I26 rides forward over the projection I25) and whenit has cleared, it will drop down into the position shown in Fig. 24preparatory for a subsequent actuation of the trigger I29.

- By rotating the selector I32 from its position of Fig. 27 to that inFig. 28 the weapon is placed in safe position, that is, the triggercannot be actuated. This is due to the outside sector I41 being droppedinto the recessil59 in which:position it effectively bars any movemgg itof the trigger guide I27 and associated'parts,

Operation matic fire and under these conditions the .sectors Mia andI4'Ia are above the walls I48 and I49 freeing the box-like trippercarrier I21 for movement to the rear.

I29 is pulled back (counterclockwise in Figs. 6, I7 and 26) the tripperI29 is pushed horizontally rearward. The beveled face I29a on thetripper will engage the follower projection I251 of the firing plungerI25 and force it laterally into the breech ring 4 (Fig. 41.) engagingthe cam portion I24 of the sear IZI, causing the release of the firingpin mechanism to strike the primer of the cartridge to explode the same.

As the gun barrel reooils, the laterally extending lug I I1 (Figures 2and 43) is moved from underneath the foot H8, but is immediatelyreplaced by the rail H9 which is simultaneously shifted, as indicated bythe broken lines in Fig. 41. Were it not for the presence of the railH9, the foot H8 would drop upon the removal of the lug H! which, inturn, would permit the spring 45 to drop the cartridge tray into thepath of the 'recoiling breech ring. However, this is avoided by the railH9 which is of sufficient length to remain under the foot H8 (and itsslide 25) during the time the lug HT is moving rearwardly in recoil andforwardly in counterrecoil to battery position. I

As explained in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,398,453, during therecoiling movement, the

crank pin mm of the cam engaging arm I'9I will ride between the camplates I4 and I5 causing the crank arm H to be rotated (from positionshown in Fig. in a clockwise direction '(to the position shown in Fig.42) as viewed from the left side of the gun, opening the breechblock 4,cooking the firing mechanism by engagement of the cocking lever I29 withthe breech ring, extracting the fired cartridge and compressing theclosing spring I I4. Extractor arms,

.mer at the time of firing is in contact with the breech face. Thevelocity imparted to the ram- .mer is sufficient to carry it to thelimit of its rearward movement in spite of the fact that the recoilmovement of the gun barrel is of considerably less length. As the rammerarrives at its rearward position the rammer latch I2 engages the frontend of the rammer sleeve 64, to secure the same (Figs..10 and 11) With.the breechblock 4 now held open (down), the transverse lug H1 islikewise down (Fig. 42) and when this lug II! is returned with therecoiling parts of the weapon back to battery position, the rail H9 willhave slipped from under- .neath this foot II Sand the lug II! willoccupy the depressed position shown by the dotted lines .iri 'Fig."lwhereuponthe slide is freed for Hence, when the trigger armdownwarmmovement to its position shown in Fig. 7'.

Upon this release of the front slide 25 the cartridge tray will begin todescend under the force of the spring 45. However, if no cartridge is inthe cartridge tray 34, the pivoted finger 99 (Fig. 14) will lock thetray against descending movement.

With. a cartridge in place in the tray, the rim of the cartridge willdeflect the finger 99 outwardly (to the left in Fig. 4 and also shown inbroken lines in Fig. 14) to release the cartridge tray which will thenbe moved to a position axially aligned with the gun barrel I (Figs. 5and '7) As the tray descends, the fiat plate 33a willengage the rammerhead 85, tilting the same downwardly (Fig. 5). As the cartridge trayapproaches the limit of its downward movement, the cam 4!, on the link49, will engage the cam 84 on the plunger 82 to disengage the latch 12thereby releasing the rammer head 85 for forward movement. v

Under the impetus of the spring 68 the rammer travels forwardly withthehead 85 extending through the open side of the cartridge tray, pushingthe cartridge into the barrel chamber.

As the rim of the cartridge strikes theextractor lugs, not shown, thebreechblock I6 is released in the known manner, and is moved upwardly bythe closing spring H4. The upper curved face 4 of the breechblock I6will tilt upwardly the rammer head 85 (Fig. 4). As the block I6 islifted by the breech closing spring I I4 the lug H! on the crank H6 willlikewise be moved upwardly and by engaging the foot I I8 of the frontslide. 25, it will raise the cartridge tray 34 to the elevated positionto receive a new cartridge.

As automatic fire is desired, the trigger arm I 29 will have been heldin rearward position and upon the return of the gun barrel to batteryposition the tripper I26 will have engaged the firing plunger I25,camming the same into the breech ring. Hence, with each upward movementof the breechblock I 6, the sear cam I24 (Fig. 41) will be engaged bythe inner cam end I250 of the .firing plunger and the cycle will repeatitself until the trigger is released or the supply of ammunition fails.In the latter case the failure to feed a cartridge to the tray willresult in the latch remaining in engagement with the notch .93 andinterrupting the cycle .of operations until a car- I tridge is placed inthe tray.

To obtain semi-automatic (single shot) fire. Preparatory to firing ashot with each pull of the trigger I29, the selector arm I49 is rotateduntil the selector arm pin I4l engages the recess I44 (Fig. 2'7). Thesequence of operations is the same as for automatic fire except that theoperating cycle ceases with the elevation of the cartridge tray 34 (Fig.6), and the trigger I29 must be pulled again, whereupon the cycle willbe repeated as often .as the trigger I29 is pulled. Under theseCODCIltiOIIS WhBII the trigger I29 is pulled (rotated to the left inFig. 27) the tripper I26 is moved rearwardly but in this case the curvedarm I26d, of the tripper will engage the sector I46a rocking the tripperabout its pivot and disengaging it from the firing plunger just aftercamming the plunger inward to fire the weapon. The operation of theloading equipment is thesame as for automatic fire until the return ofthe gun to battery. If the trigger I29 should be inadvertently held initsfiringposition aftera round has been fired, the tripper will remainin;

, necessary first to release the trigger arm and allow it to travel toits original position. As the trigger goes forward the tripper will rideover the top surface of the firing plunger follower I25 until it clearsit whereupon it will drop down into position to reengage the .plungerupon another actuation of the trigger.

To open the breechblock manuaZly.In the event it is found to bedesirable or necessary to open the breech, as in the case of an emptychamber or a misfire, the hand lever 46 is actuated to therear.(counterclockwise in Fig. 6), resulting in the blade 48 (Fig. 18)being forced beneath the edge of the front ledge of the front slide 25to retain the tray in its upper position. Further movement of the lever46 will place the button 461) into contact with the nut 311 on theforward end of the operating spring rod II3 compressing the spring H4and opening the breech, whereby a new round may be chambered manually orthe rammer may be cocked by manually moving it rearwardly. The lever 46may then be restoredto its forward position, and as the blade 48disengages from the front slide 25, the slide will descend and automaticloading will take place as previously discussed. Any conventional formof latch or detent not shown, may be provided to releasably secure thelever 46 in either of its extreme positions to prevent inadvertentdisplacement thereof with possible interference with the operation ofthe weapon.

An important feature of convenience and safety of the instant inventionis that in the event of a misfire due to a defective primer or othercause the weapon may be recocked without opening the breech orendangering personnel by exposure to a hand fire. The cocking lever I20projects from the breech ring in position to be readily operatedmanually and permits of repeated attempts to fire a defective roundwithout opening the breech.

A further feature of convenience which will be apparent is the ease withwhich the mechanism may be operated by remote control meansf It may benoted that charging of the piece.

may be accomplished after a stoppage or initially by the performance ofonly two operations opening the breechblock and tensioning the rammerspring. Both operations may be readily completed by air or hydraulicpistons coupled tothe respective parts and operated from any convenientpoint. The means of doing this are however not shown in this case asthey are not deemed to be a part of this invention. Similarly, remoteoperating means may be provided to actuate the cocking or hand lever 46and to control the trigger arm I29 from a point remote from the gun. Theimportance of these features maynot be realized until it is recalledthat in previously existing weapons of similar function it is necessaryto work .one or" more cartridges through the mechanism manually toaccomplish recharging or even recocking of the firing mechanism.'

By this invention a fully automatic cannon capable of handlingcartridges of maximum power has been produced and the weight and;

space. requirements have been considerably reduced as compared withpreviously existing weapons of similar caliber and function.

I claim:

1. In a firearm having a breechblock automati-- cally opened in responseto recoil and held open during counterrecoil, the combination therewithof a housing attached to a non-recoiling portion; of said firearm, acartridge tray, a pair of bell cranks pivoted on said housing, meanspivoting corresponding arms of said bell cranks to said cartridge trayfor supporting the same for movement from an elevated position to adepressed position, said cartridge tray when elevated beingpositioned toreceive a cartridge and when in itsdepressed position being axiallyaligned with the bore of the barrel, latching means on said housingreleasably locking said cartridge tray, when empty, in the elevatedposition and adapted to be engaged by insertion of a cartridge into saidtraysaid latching means out of locking for shifting engagement with saidcartridge tray thus freeing the same for movement to the depressedposition, a link connecting the remaining corresponding arms of saidbell cranks, a cam forming the terminal of said link, spring meansconnected to'said housing and to one of said corresponding arms of saidbell cranks for biasing said cartridge tray to the depressed position, aslide slidably mounted upon said housing and pivotally attached to oneof said bell cranks, crank means operated in response to closing of thebreechblock to engage said slide and shift the same and thereby saidcartridge tray to the elevated position against the action of saidspring means, a rammer guide attached to said housing, a hollow rammersleeve slidably mounted in said rammer guide, a rammer spring in saidrammer guide engaging said rammer sleeve for impelling the same towardsthe barrel, a rammer head pivot-- ally attached to said rammer sleevefor tilting movement between a first and a second position,

said rammer head when in the first position being above the breechblockand in engagement with v the breech of the barrel for movement by thesame to a retracted position upon recoil of thebarrel with suificientvelocity to overrun the dis-' tance traversed by said barrel in recoiland when in the second position being adapted to be moved by the rammerspring for forcing a cartridge from the cartridge tray into the barrel,means on said cartridge tray for moving said rammer head from the firstto the second position when said cartridge tray is moved into thedepressed position causing said rammer head to become aligned with thecartridge on the cartridge tray,

said rammer head being adapted to be returned to the first positionbythe breechblock whenmoved to a, closing position, a latch pivoted tothe housing and adapted to project into the path;

of said rammer sleeve to hold the same in the retracted position, andcam means pivotally at-- tached to said latch and adapted to be actuatedby said cam on the link when said tray movesinto its depressed positionto move said latch out of the path of said rammer sleeve whereby saidrammer head will force a cartridge from the car tridge tray into thebarrel chamber.

2. In a firearm having a cradle, a barrel supported on the cradle forreciprocating movements in recoil and counterrecoil, and a breechblockopened by and in response to recoil and held open during counterrecoil,the combination therewith of a housing attached to the cradle structure,a

cartridge tray, a pair of bell cranks pivoted oni 19 said housing, meanspivoting corresponding arms of said bell cranks to said cartridge trayfor supporting the same for movement to a depressed position, saidcartridge tray when elevated being in position to receive a cartridgeand when depressed being axially aligned with the bore of the barrel, alink connecting the remaining corresponding arms of said bell cranks, acam forming the terminal of said link, spring means connected to saidhousing and to one of said corresponding arms of said bell cranks forbiasing said cartridge tray to the depressed position, a slide slidablymounted upon said housing and pivotally attached to one of said bellcranks, crank means operated by the breechblock actuating means andadapted to engage said slide for shifting the same and thereby saidcartridge tray to the elevated position against the action of saidspring means, a rammer guide attached to said housing, a hollow rammersleeve slidably mounted in said rammer guide, a rammer spring in saidrammer guide engaging said rammer sleeve for impelling the same towardsthe barrel, a rammer head pivotally attached to said rammer sleeve formovement between a first and a second position, said rammer head when inthefirst position being above the breechblock and in engagement with thebreech of the barrel for movement by the same to a retracted positionupon recoil of the barrel, with sufiicient-velocity'to overrun thedistance traversed by said barrel in recoil and when in the secondposition being adapted to be moved by the rammer spring for forcing acartridge from the cartridge tray into the barrel, means on saidcartridge tray for moving said rammer head from the first to the secondposition when said cartridge tray is moved into the depressed positionthus causing said rammer head to become aligned with the cartridge onthe cartridge tray, said rammer head being adapted to be returned to thefirst position by the breechblockwhen moved to a closing position, alatch pivoted to the housing and adapted to project into the path ofsaid rammer sleeve to hold the same in the retracted position, and cammeans pivotally attached to said latch and adapted to be actuated bysaid cam on thelink when said tray moves into depressed position to movesaid latch out of the path of said rammer sleeve whereby said rammerhead will force a cartridge from the cartridge tray into the barrelchamber.

3. Ina firearm having a cradle, a barrel supported on the cradle forreciprocating movements in-recoil and counterrecoil, and having abreechblock automatically opened by and in response to recoil, thecombination therewith of a housing attached to the cradle, a cartridgetray, pivotmeans on said housing and attached to said cartridge tray forsupporting the same for movement from an elevated to a depressedposition, said cartridge tray when elevated being positioned to receivea cartridge and when depressed being axially aligned with the bore ofthe barrel, a link means connected to said pivot means,'a cam on saidlink means, spring means connected to said housing and said pivot meansfor biasing said cartridge tray to the depressed position, a slideslidably mounted upon said housing and pivotally attached to said pivotmeans, crank means operated in response to closing of the breechblockand adapted to engage said slide to shift thesame and thereby saidcartridge tray to the elevated position against the action of saidspring means, a rammer guide attached to said housing, a holw rammersleeve slidably mounted insaid ramfrom an elevated the barrel having amer guide,a rammer spring in said rammer guide engaging said rammersleeve for impelling thesame towards the barrel, a rammer head pivotallyattached to said rammer sleeve for movement between a first and a secondposition, said rammer head when in the first position being above thebreechblock' and in engagement with the breech of the barrel formovement by the same to aretracted position upon recoil of the barrel,with sufiicient velocity to overrun the distance traversed by saidbarrel in recoil and when in the second position being adapted to ram acartridge from the cartridgetray into the barrel under the action ofsaid rammer spring, means on said cartridge tray for moving said rammerhead fromthe first to the second position when said cartridge-tray ismoved into the depressed position causing said rammer head to becomealigned with the cartridge on the cartridge tray, said rammer head beingadapted to be returned to the first position by the breechblock whenmoved to a closing position, a latch pivoted to the housingv and adaptedto project into the path of said rammer sleeve to hold the same in theretracted position, and cam means pivotally attached tosaid latch andadapted to be actuated by said cam on the link means when said traymoves into depressed position to move said latch out of the path of saidrammer sleeve whereby said rammer head will force a, cartridge from thecartridge tray into the barrel chamber.

4. In a firearm having a cradle, a barrel supported on the cradle forrecoil and counterrecoil, breechblock automatically opened by and inresponse to movement of said barrel in recoil, the combination therewithof a housing attached to the cradle, a cartridge tray, supporting meanson said housing for guiding said cartridge tray from an elevated to adepressed position, said cartridge tray when elevated being positionedto receive a cartridge and when depressed being axially aligned with thebore of the barrel, first cam means connected to said supporting means,means resiliently urging said cartridge tray to the depressed position,a slide mounted upon said housing and attached to said supporting means,means operated by the breechblock actuating means and adapted to engagesaid slide for shifting the same and thereby said cartridge tray to-theelevated position against the action of saidresilient means, a rammerguide attached to said housing, a rammer slidably mounted in said rammerguide, a'rammer spring in said rammer guide engaging said rammer forimpelling the same towards the barrel, a rammer head movably attachedtosaid rammer for movement between afirst anda second position, saidrammer head when in the first position being above the breechblock andin engagement with the breech of the barrel for movement by the sameto aretracted position upon recoil of the barrel, with suflicient velocityto overrun the distance traversed by said barrel inrecoil and when inthe second position being located to ram a cartridge from the cartridgetray into the barrel und'erthe thrust of said rammer spring, means onsaid cartridge tray for moving said rammer head from the first to thesecond position when said cartridge tray'is moved into the depressedposition thereby moving said rammer head into alignment with a cartridgeon the tray, said rammer,

adapted to project into: the path of said rammer

